Sam Hain "can't wait to get out there" with bat in hand this week when he returns to training as requested by the England camp.
Warwickshire batsman Hain is among the first wave of 55 players selected by the ECB to get back to training and will be back at Edgbaston this week working initially with Bears sport director Paul Farbrace.
After sharing the nation’s frustrations of lockdown, the 24-year-old is really looking forward to doing what he does best again – and trying to forcing into the England reckoning for their forthcoming matches.
“I just can’t wait to get out there and start hitting some balls and finding some gaps,” Hain said. “It’s been a really strange time for everybody and, just like everybody else, I can’t wait to get back to some sort of normality.
“It is nice to be included in the first group to get back to training. I think I’ll be working mostly in the nets with Farby at first and then a bit later on hopefully start facing some bowlers. I can’t wait.
“I’ve just got to keep working hard and improving. There are some Tests and ODIs coming up so I’ll just do the best I can and maybe I can get a call for the white-ball games. We’ll see.”
Sam Hain
Hain is looking to keep building an England career which has seen him become firmly established with the Lions. His form for the Bears in all formats, but particularly List A cricket in which his batting average from 58 games is a remarkable 59.78, has embedded him in the Lions set-up with which he toured Australia just before Covid-19 sent cricket into lockdown.
“It was a brilliant trip to Australia,” Hain said. “It was just great to be among a great group of guys and learning all the time. Unfortunately, we lost a lot of matches rained off but it was great experience and then really nice for me to be able to stay out there for a while and see my mum and dad and brothers and friends. I don’t get too much chance to do that these days so it was really nice.”
Then came lockdown which has been tough for all – though brightened for Hain and girlfriend Sophie by a newly-arrived four-legged bundle of mischief called Sky.
“She’s a West Highland White terrier, 13 weeks old and she’s amazing,” he said. “Soph and I had thought about getting a puppy for a while and when lockdown came along it seemed the ideal time. She’s crazy.
“She’s everywhere all the time and just great to be around. She’s given us a great lift during lockdown!”
